All the images (photographic and non-photographic) made available in this collection are the property of the Basel Mission and are managed by mission 21. mission 21 / Basel Mission claim copyright on the images in their possession and require those publishing any of the images--both individuals and organisations--to pay a user's/copyright fee. Contact the Archives of mission21 at address mentioned or at info@bmpix.org. info@bmarchives.org mission21 mission21, Missionsstrasse 21, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland, tel. (+41 61 260 22 42), fax (+4161 260 22 68)
Description
Note: "Haussafrau Nzinzie Brustbild v. d. Seite. Nzinzie, die Königsfrau stammt von Banjo. Banjo ist eine grosse Mohamedanerstadt etwa 250 km nördlich v. Bamum. Dort ist Nzinzie aufgewachsen. Als Tochter eines königlichen Beamten hörte sie wohl ab u. zu auch von Nzoya, dem mächtigen König, sprechen, und es erwachte in ihr der heisse Wunsch, den berühmten Häuptling zu sehen und zu sprechen. Kaum erwachsen, verliess sie mit einigen Sklavinnen ihr Vaterhaus, reiste auf mühsamen Wegen in 8 Tagen nach Fumban und liess sich beim Häuptling Nzoya melden. Alles was sie hörte und sah, gefiel ihr so ausserordentlich gut, dass sie Heimat und Elternhaus, Verwandte und Freunde darüber vergass und sich dem Bamumkönig als Frau anbot. Selbstredend hat Nzoya sie nicht ausgeschlagen, sondern sie gerne angenommen und sie, wohl um ihres hohen Standes willen zu Ehren gebracht und zu einer seiner Hauptfrauen gemacht. Leider hat die Mohamedanerin auf den königlichen Gemahl keinen guten Einfluss. Sie lässt kein Mittel unversucht, um ihn von der Mission zu entfernen und um dem Christentum zu schaden. Sie ist ein überaus begabter Mensch, braucht aber leider ihre Fähigkeiten zu Intrigen und Lügen, die schon viel Verdruss und Unglück angerichtet haben!" (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Beschreibung zu den Lichtbildern aus Bamum. E-30-0,6). Note translation: The Hausa woman Nzinzie, head and shoulders from the side. [NB the German word for woman is the same as the German word for wife , and as we shall see this woman is, indeed, one of Njoya s wives. PJ]. Nzinzie, the King s wife, comes from Banjo. Banjo is a large muslim town about 250 Km. north of Fumban. Nzinzie grew up there. She was the daughter of a royal official, and so every now and again she heard people talk about Njoya, the mighty King. The strong desire developed in her to see this famous chief and to speak to him. She was scarcely adult when she left her father s house, accompanied by a few female slaves, and travelled eight days on difficult trails to reach Fumban and announce her arrival to chief Njoya. Everything which she heard and saw pleased her so extraordinarily much that she forgot her home town and her parent s house, her friends and her relatives, and offered herself to the Bamum king as his wife. Naturally Njoya did not refuse this offer but took her willingly, and presumably because of her high rank gave her honour and made her to be one of his chief wives. Unfortunately this muslim woman has no good influence on her royal husband. She uses every means at her disposal to estrange him from the Mission, and to damage the cause of christianity. She is a gifted person but uses her capacities for intrigue and manipulation, and has already caused a lot of grief and unhappiness. (A. Wuhrmann, 1917, Commentaries to Slides from Bamum, E-30-0,6. K 348).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver 11.2 x 8.0 cm.
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